Amy Winehouse, Rehab singer, dies aged 27

Amy Winehouse, the singer, has been found dead at her home at the age of 27.

Miss Winehouse, who came to fame with her debut album Frank in 2003, was found at her flat in north London this afternoon, the Metropolitan Police have confirmed.

They say that they received a call at 3.54pm calling for help for a woman in Camden. Paramedics arrived at the scene, but she was pronounced dead. A spokeswoman for the London Ambulance Service said: "Sadly the patient had died."

The death is "unexplained" but not thought to be suspicious. An overdose of drink and drugs is the suspected cause of death.

Last month, Miss Winehouse cancelled her entire European tour, after an on-stage breakdown in Serbia. A statement on her website said "Amy Winehouse is withdrawing from all scheduled performances. Everyone involved wishes to do everything they can to help her return to her best and she will be given as long as it takes for this to happen."

Friends of the singer had reportedly voiced fears that she was drinking herself to death. They said earlier this month: "Her drinking is totally out of control. Amy is constantly out of control on vodka.

"She is rattling about at home in north London drinking herself into oblivion. Three times this week she has been so drunk she passed out."

Miss Winehouse had several bouts of treatment for drink and drugs, the most recent in May. Her 2006 album Back to Black featured a song called Rehab, which documented her drinking problems and refusal to seek help.

In 2007 she married Blake Fielder-Civil, and the pair had a sometimes violent relationship. Fielder-Civil was imprisoned for conspiring to pervert the course of justice in 2008 and the pair divorced in 2009.

Winehouse's father, Mitch, is understood to be returning to the UK from New York. He had been due to perform at the Blue Note jazz club in the city on Monday.

A message has been placed on the club's website, reading: "We are very sad to report that the Mitch Winehouse performance on Monday July 25th is cancelled due to the unexpected death of his daughter, Amy Winehouse. Our condolences go out to Mitch and his family."

Tributes to the singer have been appearing on Twitter and elsewhere. Fellow singer Lily Allen said: "It's just beyond sad, there's nothing else to say. She was such a lost soul, may she rest in peace." Piers Morgan, the CNN broadcaster and former tabloid editor, tweeted: "Such desperately sad news re Amy Winehouse. Supreme natural talent, terrible self-destructive addictive personality. #RIP". Davina McCall, the television presenter, said: "So very, very sad. A huge talent." Tinchy Stryder, the musician, added: "My thoughts go out to her family and friends. RIP Amy Winehouse." The singer Katy B said:

Fans have begun to lay flowers at the edge of the police cordon around the singer's Camden home. Jann Meyer, 33, who lives nearby, said he saw Winehouse around quite often.

"It's not really a shock, it was to be expected sooner or later. She was 27, and all good rock stars go at 27. She was very talented, she was amazing."

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said she saw the singer's grief-stricken boyfriend on the ground outside the house. Two women then came "speeding" up in a black Mercedes and walked in and out of the house crying. They said they believed the singer was at home last night.

Ron Brand, who had known Winehouse for about three years, said: "It's a tragic loss. She was beautiful, talented of course, and gentle. I loved her." Mr Brand, father of comedian Russell Brand, said he believed she was no longer on drugs.